Drake Sisters 06 - Turbulent Sea

worse, Ilya had seen the entire thing. That also had made her feel cheap and dirty. She certainly knew how to make a fool out of herself around him.
    She didn't want to appear as if anything bothered her. That was her trademark - happy-go-lucky Joley. Laughing at life and moving through the world like quicksilver. She hid scared well - always had. So well that her sisters, able to read others with ease, never guessed that she'd embarked on her world tour with trepidation. The recent attack on Hannah had terrified her. She knew the Drake family had bitter enemies, and the threats on her life had grown numerous.
    'The Reverend shows up just to get the press,' Brian said. 'I caught his act the other day for a few minutes, how repentant he is for his lustful thoughts, and how he spent a week on his knees begging the lord's forgiveness for lusting after you. He says he wants to save you as well. He's forgiven you for tempting him, you daughter of the devil, and now he only wants to reach out and pull you from hell's claws. I think he's trying to get the world to believe you're a lesbian or at least bisexual, because then he could really crucify you.'
    For a moment Brian sounded bitter, but when she glanced up sharply, he shrugged. 'He's a fucking weirdo, Joley.
    Don't let him rattle you.'
    'Well I wish he'd just disappear.'
    'He got a lot of press time for his little act with you,' Rick added, threading his fingers through his long blond hair in typical Rick fashion. He had gorgeous hair and the women went wild for it. Knowing that, he used every opportunity to draw attention to the shimmering golden strands, which made the rest of the band laugh.
    'Anyone near you can pretty much stay on the front pages. And now the Rev's hanging with Nikitin,' Brian added, pointing his finger at her. 'I told you it was a mistake to ignore Nikitin. If you were his friend, he'd never let the Reverend come near his parties.'
    'You ought to know. You've gone to them even when I asked you not to,' Joley said and glared at Brian.
    Brian looked uncomfortable. 'I didn't know about him, Joley.'
    Rick shrugged, unrepentant. 'He always has the best booze and women. What can I say? His parties rock.'
    She ignored him and turned her attention to the warm-up band as the rest of her band members crowded close.
    Denny stayed to the back looking sheepish and avoiding her gaze. Leo Meyer, on keyboard, looking good in jeans and an open vest, blew her a kiss, his eyes shining with excitement.
    Logan forgot all about her personal space and picked her up, swinging her around. T'm a father, Joley, can you believe that? She's the cutest baby I've ever seen.'
    Brian nudged him. 'That's not hard, they're all kind of squishy and sort of undercooked.'
    Logan set Joley on her feet and hugged her hard. 'Man, she's got the tiniest fingers and she looks at me and I melt.'
    He glared at Brian, who grinned unrepentantly. 'And she's not undercooked. She's just a little squishy.'
    Joley poked both of them. 'She's new, not squishy. Is she still at the hospital?'
    'Under guard.' Logan nodded. 'They're letting her go home with me tomorrow. Jerry's trying to find a nanny, but I have to be careful. I don't like the idea of hiring someone we don't know.'
    'What about Tish? She's a teacher and so good with kids. Have you considered her?' Joley was careful to extricate herself from Logan. His joy was overwhelming her, along with his fears of fatherhood. She couldn't afford to have those emotions inside her when she went out to perform. Her voice could affect the entire audience.
    Logan rubbed at the deliberate five o'clock shadow on his chin and glanced around the tight circle surrounding him.
    They were all silent, watching him. 'I think I burned that bridge pretty effectively.'
    When the band was first starting out, it was Logan's wife, Tish, who'd taken care of them all, sold their CDs at the bars and made their posters and even got them gigs. She was the one who had first connected with Joley, which had eventually brought their band to fame. Tish had come up the ranks with them and they all adored her. They'd known her since high school, and all of them missed her - especially Logan.
    'You won't know until you try, bro,' Leo said. 'Tish isn't with anyone else and she never divorced your sorry ass. You told me that yourself the other day.'
    Joley's eyebrow shot up. 'Have you been keeping tabs on her?'
    Logan looked sheepish. He shrugged. 'Maybe. A little. I ask some of our old